Drupe pitter

ABSTRACT

A pitter for removing whole or half pits from clingstone drupe halves in which relative movement between a drupe half and a member on the pitter toward each other, from a spaced position, is effected, until said member engages the planar surface of the drupe half around the exposed pit, and thereafter, continued movement in the same direction automatically actuates a mechanism that causes pit engaging elements on said member to engage the side of the pit adhered to the pit cavity, and to apply yieldable outward pressure on the pit to tension the fibers holding the pit in said pit cavity. At the same time such pressure is applied said elements are revolved relative to the pit to break the tensioned fibers and to rotate the pit relative to the peach half when adhesion is weakened, and said member and elements are thereafter automatically actuated to withdraw and to release the detached pit from the half, and to restore the member to its spaced position preparatory to another pitting operation. The invention also includes the provision of a plurality of pitters operatively connected with a single source of power for simultaneously pitting a row of drupe halves employing the above structure and for simultaneously positioning and removing successive rows of drupe halves to and from said pitting position.

United States Patent Meissner et al.

1 July 11,1972

[54] DRUPE PITTER [72] Inventors: Konrad E. Meissner, Lafayette;Etheride R. McClelland, Liver-more, both of Calif.

[73] Assignee: Filper Corporation, San Ramon, Calif.

[22] Filed: March 1, 1971 [2|] Appl. No.: 119,684

Related U.S. Application Data [62] Division of Ser. No. 8l4,l l8, April7, 1969, Pat. No.

[52] US. Cl. l46/28 A, l46/237 Primary Examiner-Willie G. AbcrcrombieArmrneyBoyken, Mohler, Foster 84 Schwab ABSTRACT A pitter for removingwhole or half pits from clingstone drupe halves in which relativemovement between a drupe half and a member on the pitter toward eachother. from a spaced position, is effected. until said member engagesthe planar surface of the drupe half around the exposed pit. andthereafter. continued movement in the same direction automaticallyactuates a mechanism that causes pit engaging elements on said member toengage the side of the pit adhered to the pit cavity, and to applyyieldable outward pressure on the pit to tension the fibers holding thepit in said pit cavity. At the same time such pressure is applied saidelements are revolved relative to the pit to break the tensioned fibersand to rotate the pit relative to the peach half when adhesion isweakened, and said member and elements are thereafler automaticallyactuated to withdraw and to release the detached pit from the half, andto restore the member to its spaced position preparatory to anotherpitting operation.

The invention also includes the provision of a plurality of pittersoperatively connected with a single source of power for simultaneouslypitting a row of drupe halves employing the above structure and forsimultaneously positioning and removing successive rows of drupe halvesto and from said pitting position.

8 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures DRUPE PI'I'I'ER This is a division ofcopending application Ser. No. 814, I I8, filed Apr. 7, I969, now U.S.Pat. No. 3,583,456.

SUMMARY The present apparatus is adapted to be employed as an auxiliaryto torque type pitters to pit the drupe halves that may not be pitted bythe torque type pitters due to split pits, in which case it may becalled a repitter, or all of the drupes including their pits may bebisected and then pitted by the apparatus, and in a single pittingmachine there may be any number of simultaneously actuated pittingunits, each adapted to separate a whole or half pit from the pit cavitywithout loss of flesh irrespective of differences in the sizes of thepits so that the pitted products are substantially indistinguishablefrom those pitted by the true torque method.

As drupes including their pits may be bisected at a much higher ratethan they can be pitted, it is seen that where a pitting machine isadapted to simultaneously pit a plurality of drupe halves, such as eightor more, and which halves are automatically oriented and fed to thepitting unit at approximately the same rate as they are singly fed toconventional pitters for pitting single peaches, the volume of drupespitted is materially increased over the ordinary systems heretoforeused, and the drupe halves have all the desirable characteristics ofhalves pitted by the strictly torque type pitter.

One object of the invention is the provision of a clingstone drupepitter that includes one or more pitting heads each including a membersupported for reciprocation into and out of engagement with astationarily held drupe half which head includes pit engaging elementsmovable into engagement with the side of the pit adherently held in thepit cavity of the stationary drupe half and which elements areautomatically actuated by movement of said member afier its engagementwith the drupe half to revolve relative to the pit to free the pit fromthe drupe half, which reciprocable movement of said member and pitengaging members including revolving of the latter is automatic andactuated from a single source of power.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a pitter that is animprovement over the drupe pitter disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,540,507ofNov. 17, I970.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the detailed description anddrawings.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIG. I is a part elevational, part crosssectional view taken through a housing enclosing pan of the drivingmeans for the pitting heads.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the housing of FIG. 1 partly broken away toshow the driving elements inside the housing, with part of such elementsin cross section.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged side elevational view of one of the pitting heads,the upper end portions of several of which are shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the pitting head of FIG. 3 as seenat a right angle to the latter.

FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of the pitting head of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary enlarged elevational view of the lower end ofthe pitting head of FIG. 3 showing in dot-dash lines, the action of thepit engaging tines in a pitting operation and the forces applied to thepit being shown by arrows.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary, part sectional, part elevational viewof a part of the cup-type conveyor showing several drupe supporting cupsin a row in positions below several of the pitting heads of FIGS. 3, 4.

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of one of several of the conveyor cups as seenfrom line 8-8 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged cross sectional view of one of the conveyor cupsof the transverse rows thereof taken along line 9- 9 of FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION SUPPORT AND VERTICAL RECIPROCATION OF PI'ITINGHEADS Secured on rocker shaft 26 (FIG. 2) is one end of each of aplurality of corresponding arms 70. The opposite outer end of each armis formed with a yoke to provide horizontally spaced arms 71 (FIGS.I-3), each having a roller 72 thereon disposed on the opposedly facingsides thereof, which rollers are positioned in an annular outwardlyopening recess 73 fonned in collar 74 (FIGS. 1, 3, 4) of one of thepitting heads 75 of a pitting mechanism. A horizontally-elongated metalstrip 76 (FIG. 2) extends the length of the row of pitting heads, andlongitudinally of the rocker shaft 26, and is clamped between therespective arms 70 and said shaft, which strip automatically aligns thearms 70 longitudinally of the row thereof.

The rocking of rocker shaft 26 is under the influence of a cam, on acontinuously rotating shaft shown and described in copending applicationSer. No. 814,] I8, which cam controls the oscillatory movement of thearms 70 and consequently the lowering and elevating of pitter heads 75,as will later be explained more in detail.

A detailed description of one pitting head and its support and actuatingmeans will suffice for the others except that a single gear will actuateeach separate pair of pitting heads.

The pitting heads 75 depend from a horizontally-elongated housing 77(FIGS. 1, 2) which housing includes an end compartment 78 at one endthereof (FIG. 9).

Said housing 77 has an upper wall 79 and a lower wall 80 (FIG. 2) andend walls 81, 82. Bearings 83, 84 respectively in end walls 81, 82support the ends of a horizontally-extending shaft 86. One end portion87 of said shaft 86 extends into compartment 78.

The pitting heads 75 each have upward extensions generally designated 90connected therewith, (FIG. 1) that extend upwardly through the lower andupper walls 80, 79 of housing 77, and the collars 74 of the pittingheads are adjacent to and below said lower wall 80.

Each collar 74 is coaxial with, and reciprocably supported, on a centralvertical rod 92 (FIGS. 3, 4). A spline 93 connects the collar 74 withrod 92 for rotation of the rod and the collar together, while permittingreciprocable movement of the collar on the rod.

A split coupling 94 connects the upper end of rod 92 with the lower endof a hollow shafi 95 that is integral with and in upward extension ofthe half 96 of said coupling (FIG. 4), the other half 97 being generallysemi-cylindrical, and connected to the upper end of rod 92 by screws 98.Halves 96, 97 and the portion of rod 92 between them are formed with acoaxial bore for a screw 99 that extends therethrough, one end of saidscrew being in threaded engagement with the portion of the bore that isin the half 96.

The structure of coupling 90 enables quick removal and replacement of apitting head 75 outside the housing 77, if

nec

l-lollow shah 95 (FIG. I extends into the lower end portion of an outerrotary shaft 100 and is connected with shaft 100 by a spline I01 withsaid outer shaft for rotation together with the latter while permittingaxial reciprocatory movement of shaft 95 relative to shaft 100.

The outer shaft 100 is supported at its lower and upper ends in bearings104, (FIG. I) that are respectively carried by the lower wall 80 andupper wall 79 of housing 77.

Outer shafi 100 terminates approximately at the upper side of an upperbearing 105.

Threadedly extending into and connected with the upper end of shaft 95is the lower end of a spindle shaft 106 that is spaced within the outershafi 100. The upper end portion of spindle shaft 106 is slidably androtatably supported in a vertical bearing 107, which bearing, in turn,is threadedly connected with an annular nut 108 through which thebearing 107 extends, which nut is adapted to be tightened against theupper edges of the outer shaft I00 for rotation with the latter.

The upper side of nut I08 is formed with an annular upwardly openingrecess in which a shock absorbent ring 109 of rubber or similar materialis secured, and an inverted cup-like hood I I is releasably secured onthe upper end of the spindle shaft I06, within which the upper end ofthe upper bearing 107 is adapted to be received upon downward movementof the spindle shaft. The lower annular edge of the hood I 10 may engagethe shock absorbent ring 109 upon lowering of the spindle shaft 106 tothe lower end of its movement. In any event the ring 109 will limitdownward movement of the hood and said spindle shaft.

A pinion III is formed on the outer tubular shaft 100 at a point spacedbetween the upper and lower walls of housing 77.

A helical spring I12, coaxial with spindle shaft I06 is around thelatter in the space between said shaft 106 and outer shaft 100. Thisspring reacts between the upper end of the hollow shaft 95 and the lowerend of the upper bearing I07 to yieldably resist upward movement of thehollow shaft 95 or to yieldably urge it downwardly. Upward movement ofthe collar 74 through rocking of rock shaft 26 moves the spindleupwardly to its elevated position.

The spindle shaft assemblies, each of which include the lower hollowshaft 95 and the connector for connecting the latter with a pitting head75, are arranged in pairs in a row that is alongside the horizontalshaft 86 that, in turn, extends through housing 77 longitudinally of thelatter.

ROTATION OF FITTING HEADS Directly below shaft 86 and equally spacedfrom the spindle shafts of each pair of the latter, the lower wall 80 isformed with upwardly projecting bosses 115 (FIG. 1), each of whichsupports a vertical, stationary stub shaft 116. Each stub shaft I16carries bearings I17 on their upper ends that rotatably support a set ofgears comprising spur gear 118 and a bevel gear 119 coaxial therewithand secured thereto. The teeth of the spur gears are in mesh with theteeth of pinions I II on the outer shaft I00 of the spindle shaftassembly of each pair, while the teeth of the bevel gear 119 are each inmesh with the teeth of a bevel gear 120 secured on shafl 86. Uponrotation of the shaft 86 in one direction the spindle shafis I00 andpitting heads 74 will be simultaneously rotated in one direction, andupon reverse rotation of shaft 86 the spindle shafts and pitting headswill be rotated simultaneously in the opposite direction.

A spur gear I23 is keyed on the end of shaft 86 that projects into theend compartment 78 of housing 77, (FIG. 1), the

teeth of which gear I23 are in mesh with the teeth of a segment gear,the back of which is seen in FIG. I on arm I25, which arm I25 issupported by a bearing 126 (FIG. 1) on a pivot 127, the latter, in turn,being supported at its ends in two opposite walls of compartment 78(FIG. 1). Arm 125 has a portion offset to one side, which portioncarries a cam follower I29. A face cam 130 (FIG. I) on the main camshaftcontinuously rotating that controls reciprocation of the pitting headsand oscillation of arm I25, extends into the compartment 78 and follower129 is in the cam track 131 of said cam (FIG. 1). Upon oscillation ofarm I25 and of the segment gear thereon, under the influence of cam 130,the shaft 86 will be oscillated to cause the pitting heads 74 to berotated 180 in one direction and then immediately 180 in a reversedirection at equally spaced intervals of time provided for by thecontour ofcam track I3I.

Each spindle shaft assembly hereinbefore described and each pittinghead, may be generally described as a pitting head assembly, and theshaft 86 in housing 77 and the various pieces therein and in compartment78, including the actuating means therefor, may be generally called thepitting head drive assembly.

THE PI'ITING HEADS Specifically referring to FIGS. 3, 4, each pitterhead 75 includes a central, vertically elongated shah 92, the upper endof which is connected by the coupling 94 with lower end of the hollowshaft 95 that extends into the housing 77 (FIG. I). The

collar 74 is below said coupling and the shaft 92 reciprocally extendsflirough said collar, but the shaft 92 is connected with said collar bythe spline 93 on shaft 92 for holding said collar and shaft againstrotation relative to each other.

Said collar 74 is the one having the radially outwardly opening recess73 in which rollers 72 are positioned, said rollers being carried on arm70 that is secured to the rocker shaft 26 (FIG. 2).

Integral with the collar 74 is a base block I36 through which shaft 92also slidably extends. and said base block has parallel opposite flatsides against each of which the upper end of a stationary cam plate 137is secured, and from which each plate depends. Plates 137 are planar andare in spaced opposed relation at opposite sides of and spaced from theshaft 92, and their opposed faces are formed with vertically-extendingcam tracks I38 (FIG. 3) each having oppositely outwardly extending lowerend portions I39. These cam tracks are positioned at opposite sides of avertical plane that is coincidental with the axis of shaft 92 andperpendicular to the planes of plates 137, and are identical except forbeing offset at opposite sides of said vertical plane and that theirlower end portions I39 extend outwardly relative to said plane inopposite directions.

A pair of cranks, generally designated 140, are positioned at oppositesides of the shaft 92, each crank having a relatively shortvertically-extending arm I41 and a longer horizontallyextending arm 142(FIG. 3). The shorter arms I41 extend upwardly from their juncture withthe longer arms. and horizontal pivots I43 at said junctures pivotallyconnect the cranks with members I44 that are rigidly secured to theshaft 92 at opposite sides of the latter, said shaft being flattened atsaid opposite sides (FIG. 4) from the upper edges of said members,downwardly, for securement of said members against said flat sides bycoaxial screws (FIG. 3) extending into the shaft. The shaft 92 may berabbited longitudinally thereof along opposite side edges of theflattened opposite sides to receive flanges 146 along the side edges ofthe members I44 (FIG. 5) to secure said members rigid with the shaftagainst rotation about the axis of said screws I45.

Collar 74 is in its uppermost position on shaft 92 when it is againstthe coupling 94, and when in said uppermost position, the upper end ofthe shorter crank arm 14] of each crank is adjacent to and in opposedrelation to the open side of the lower portion 139 of a cam track 138(FIG. 3). A cam follower I47, rotatably carried on said upper end ofeach shorter crank arm I4I, extends into said lower portion 139 of thecam track adjacent thereto. The pivots I43 are spaced below the lowerends of cam plates 137 and the longer crank arms I42 extend from saidpivots 143 horizontally across opposite sides of shaft 92. Cranks 140are of the same structure and arms I42 extend horizontally acrossopposite sides of shaft 92 from pivots 143 to points spaced equaldistances outwardly of shaft 134.

The outer ends of the longer crank arms 142 are formed with throughbores for pivots I50 that are respectively integral with cross elements15] (FIGS. ll, 12). One element is at each of the opposite sides ofshaft 92, and the upper end of a rod I52 reciprocably extends througheach element I51. Rods 152 extend convergently downwardly to points atopposite sides of the lower end portion of shaft 92 and a Ilat-sidedenlargement or head I53, rigid with the lower end portion of each rod,extends between an opposed pair of cars 154 that are integral with andproject from one side of a clevis generally designated 156, having anopposed pair of arms I57, I58 projecting from its opposite side. A pivotI59 extends through ears 154 pivotally connecting the lower end of eachrod I52 to one of the clevises (FIGS. 3, 4, 6).

Coaxial horizontal pivots (FIGS. 4, 6) threadedly extending into thelower end of shaft 92 and projecting oppositely outwardly therefrom,extend through the arms I57, I58 of the arms of clevises I56 pivotallyconnecting said arms with said lower end of shaft 92.

A helical or coil spring 161 (FIG. 4) around each rod I52 reacts betweena flange on a collar I62 that is slidable on each rod adjacent to andbelow each element 151 and a flange on a similar collar 163 adjacentenlargement or head 153. The end of each rod adjacent to eachenlargement 153 is threaded, and the flange on each collar I63 isagainst a nut I64 threaded out the lower end of each rod. The upper endof each rod I52 is also threaded, and a nut I65 is on the threadedportion projecting from the upper side of each element 1. Thus thetension of springs 161 can be adjusted and said tension is such that thenuts 165 are yieldably held against the upper sides of elements 151 andthe clevises 156 will simultaneously pivot clockwise about one of thepivots 160 for the right-hand clevis in FIG. 6, and counterclockwise forthe left-hand clevis upon downward movement of the outer ends of thelonger arms I42, but may yield if unexpected predetermined resistance tosaid pivotal movement of one of the clevises is encountered.

Each clevis 156 includes a head or cross piece 168 (FIG. 4) from whichsaid ears I54 and arms 157, 158 project. The latter project convergentlydownwardly from each cross piece I68 to opposite sides of the lowerportions of shaft 92 (FIG. 3).

The aforesaid cross pieces I68 have flat sides that face outwardly ofthe lower end of shaft 92, and the upper enlarged end portion 169 of adownwardly projecting tine 170 (FIG. 4) is secured against each saidflat sides by a screw I71. The flat side against which said portion 169is held is actually the bottom of a recess formed in each cross piecehaving straight parallel sides, and the enlarged portion 169 (FIG. 4) ofthe tine is rectangular with straight side edges against said sides ofthe recess, so the tine is rigid on said cross piece insofar as rotationabout screw I7] is concerned.

Secured on the lower end portion of shaft 92 at the sides that are atright angles to the sides against which members 144 are secured are theupper end portions I72 of a pair of downwardly-extending supports I73(FIG. 4) against the lower ends of which is secured a flathorizontally-disposed annular member I74 (FIG. 5) by screws I75. Thelower end portions of supports 173 are offset to one side of each of thecoaxial pivots I60 (FIG. 6) in the same direction circumferentially ofthe member I74 to avoid the latter and the ends of arms I57, 158.

When the collar 74 on shaft 92 at the upper end of the pitting head isin its uppermost position, the terminal lower ends of the tines 170 areapproximately even with the lower surface of the annular member 174 andare within opposedly opening recesses 176 formed in the opposed radiallyinner sides of said member.

Tines 170 preferably are slightly curved toward each other in a downwarddirection and come to a point at their lower terminal ends. From saidlower ends they become progressively wider (FIG. 4) in an upwarddirection to the enlarged upper portion 169. The pitting head rotates inone direction about the axis of shaft 92 during the effective pittingoperation, thus each tine has a leading edge I77 and a trailing edgeI78. Said trailing edge of both tines may be substantially straight,axially of shaft 92 and substantially in a vertical plane bisecting theshaft longitudinally thereof, while the leading edge is slightly slantedoutwardly of said plane from its pointed end to the upper portion 169(FIG. 4) and the sides of each is slightly bevelled from edge I77 at 179so that said leading edge will not engage the pit of a drupe that isbetween the pair of teeth, as will be explained more in detail later on.

Shafl 92 is formed with a central downwardly opening bore 180 in which arod 181 (FIG. 6) is vertically reciprocable. The upper end I82 of saidrod 181 (FIG. 3) is enlarged, as is the upper portion of bore I80, andsaid enlargement is adapted to abut an axially upwardly facing shoulderat the juncture between the enlarged upper end of bore 180 and thelesser diameter lower end to restrict downward movement of said rod. Anexpansion coil spring 183 reacts between head I82 and rod [8] and aclosure in the upper end of said bore 180 to yieldably urge rod I8Idownwardly. A transversely elongated pit-engaging element 184 (FIGS. 5,6) rotatably secured by a screw 185 on the lower end of rod 181 ispositioned with its lower surface slightly below the plane of lowersurface of the annular member I74.

Each intermittent rotation of shaft 36 of conveyor 6 by rotation of theindex plate 37, as hereinbefore described, moves the drupe supportingcups 5 of each transverse row thereof (FIG. 7) into alignment with, andbelow, the row of pitting heads 75 with the lower ends of the pittingheads spaced above the cups and above the drupe halves that are in saidcups.

DRUPE CONVEYOR AND SUPPORT FOR DRUPE HALVES DURING PITIING An endlessconveyor 6 (FIG. 7) extends at one end 0\ er a pair of sprocket wheels186 adjacent opposite ends of a shaft 40 on one end of which shaft issecured an intermittently rotated index plate 37, and the other end ofthe conveyor extends over a similar pair of sprocket wheels on anothershaft. A pair of endless sprocket chains 187 extend over said pairs ofsprocket wheels and metal strips 188 (FIG. 8) extend between the chainsand are secured to links of the latter, thus providing an endless row ofsaid strips in parallel side-by-side relation. Each strip is formed witha row of openings 189 (FIG. 9) in each of which an annular casting 190for each cup 5 extends. Each strip 188 has flanges on sides 191 alongits longitudinally-extending edges that are directed inwardly relativeto the endless chains whereby each strip is of channel shape incross-sectional contour, the flanges or sides 19] providing rigidity forthe strips. Radially outwardly projecting ears 192 (FIG. 8) on eachcasting 190 is adapted to overlie the outer surface of each strip aroundeach opening and screws 193 (FIG. 9) threaded into openings in said earsextend through openings in said ears and secure the castings to eachstrip.

Each cup 5 is of rubber or rubber-like plastic material and is ofconical shape with the larger diameter end open and facing outwardly ofthe conveyor, and the smaller diameter end of each cup is closed by animperforate bottom wall 195 of said material (FIG. 9). The side walls196 of each cup are formed with straight ribs I97 of uniform widthextending divergently relative to each other from said bottom walloutwardly to the outer side of said cup. Said ribs are rounded on theirouter sides to prevent injury to the convex outer surfaces of drupehalves seated thereagainst, and to hold such halves against rotationrelative to the cups when said convex surfaces are forced thereagainst.

The radially outermost portion or rim 198 of each cup is relativelythick, and spaced inwardly from said rim is a depending cylindricalportion I99 that is adapted to seat in an annular outwardly openingrecess 200 in the casting I90. The radial inner side of said portion 199is formed with radially inwardly projecting segments 201 adapted to snapinto complementarily formed recesses in the inner side wall of eachrecess 200 for releasably holding the cups in the castings 190.

Lugs 204 (FIG. 7), secured to the ends of the strip 188 pro ject fromthe same sides of said strips as flanges I91, and the outer ends of saidlugs are connected to links of chains I87, and said chains are slidablysupported on tracks 205 (FIG. 7) that are, in turn, secured on anglestrips 206 of the frame I0. The strips that are below the pitting headsare supported on members 207, which members are stationary on a crossframe member 208 that is secured at its ends to said angle strips 206centrally between its ends, strips I88 are each provided with a bearingelement 209 slidable on a piece 210 secured to said cross frame member208.

By this structure the cups of the rows of cups are adequately supportedfrom below at the pitting station for resisting downward movement whenthe pitting heads descend into contact with the drupe halves 1 (FIG. 9)in the cups 5.

FITTING OPERATION The collar 74 on each pitting head and all of theelements connected with or mounted on the vertical shaft 92 includingthe annular drupe engaging member 174 on the lower end of said head, areadapted to move downwardly, as a unit, with the tines 170 retracted inthe position shown in FIGS. 11-14.

immediately upon the lower surface of the annular member 174 engagingthe flat or planar upper surface of a drupe half supported in a cup 5,the collar 74 of each pitting head and cam plates 137 thereon, willcontinue downward movement under the influence of rollers 72 on arm 70(FIG. 8). The shaft 92 that carries the cam followers 147 will bestopped by the engagement of annular member 174 with the planar upperface of the drupe half, but continued downward movement of the camplates 137 will actuate followers 146 so that cranks 140 will cause theouter pointed ends of the tines 170 to start to move along paths 213(FIG. 6) until the tines are in pit-engaging positions 214. The tinesare moved to said positions 214 under the influence of movement of camfollowers 147 in the lower portions 139 of cam tracks 138, and springs161 FIG. 3) reacting against the lower ends of rods 152 (FIG. 5) willresult in applying an upward yieldable pressure of tines 170, asindicated by arrows 216 (FIG. 6), against the convex underside of pit217, thus tending to draw the pit out of the pit cavity in the drupehalf while the body of the drupe half is held against the annular member174. The fibers connecting the pit with the pit cavity are placed undertension, and at the same time the element 184, which may be called afoot," extends across the pit approximately from edge-to-edge, andspring 183 yieldably maintains the foot against the pit, although thespring 183 that provides such tension, is light relative to the tensionof springs 161.

The limit of downward movement of the collar 74 on each pitting head isdetermined by the limit of downward movement of the hood 110 on theupper end of spindle shaft 106 (FIG. 1). The lower surface of the hoodsides are adapted to engage the bumper rings when the downward limit ofthe movement of the pitting is reached, although normally the pittinghead would not reach the downward limit of its movement, even when thepeach half was relatively small.

When the cam followers 147 are in the vertical upper por tions of camtracks 138 the tines will remain in the final position to which theyhave been moved, which may vary somewhat, according to the size of thepit. The smaller the diameter of the drupe, the farther the head 75 willmove downwardly before the tines are actuated, and the tines areactuated during the one-inch downward movement of the collar followingthe engagement between the annular member 174 and the planar uppersurface of the peach.

After such final downward movement of the collar and the drupe half isfirmly seated in a cup, the cam 130 on camshaft 19 will actuate the camfollower 129 and segmental gear 124 to rotate the pitting heads l80 ineach of two opposite directions to break the fibers connecting the pitsin the pit cavities, and to remove the pits by a torque action resultingfrom weakening the attachment of the pits to the sides of the pitcavities and the frictional engagement between the pit and the tines.The double bevelled leading edges of the tines provides a wedge-effectas the tines move around the pit and this effect, together with thetension of springs 161 tending to draw the pit out of the pit cavity andthe torque force applied to the pit, combine to break the tensionedfibers connecting the pit to the body of the drupe forming the pitcavity and to rotate the pit relative to the body of the drupe half. Thetines are in frictional engagement with the pit during rotation of thehead to free the pit. This method of engaging the pits and breaking themloose is similar to that shown and described in US. Pat. No. 3,540,507,ofNov. 17, 1970.

The timing efl'ected by the cams hereinbefore described is such that,after an advance of the conveyor to position a row of cups having drupehalves therein below the pitting heads, the conveyor is stationary, andat the same time the heads 75 are moved down to effect gripping of thebodies of the drupe halves between the conveyor cups 5 and the annularmembers 174. While the conveyor is still stationary the heads 75 arerotated to remove the pits, after which the heads 75 are moved upwardlyand the conveyor is moved for positioning another row of drupe-filledcups to a position below the row of pitting heads.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for removing a pit from a drupe half, which half has aplanar surface on one side and a pit cavity therein with the pit adheredin said cavity, and a generally hemispherical convex surface on theother side extending to said planar surface, comprising:

a. a pitting head comprising an elongated member supported forreciprocable movement longitudinally thereof between an initial positionin which one end is spaced from a drupe half, and a drupe engagingposition. in which said one end is in engagement with said planarsurface around a pit in said pit cavity and in which drupe engagingposition further movement of said member toward said half is stopped bysaid half when such half is held stationary on said axis relative tosaid reciprocable movement in a pit-removing position with said planarsurface facing said member, and means for holding such drupe halfstationary in said pit-removing position,

b. pit-engaging means adjacent to said one end supported for movementfrom a retracted position out of said drupe half into said half throughsaid planar surface thereon to pit-engaging position in engagement withthe side of said pit within said pit cavity at points spaced from theedges of said cavity, said movement of said pit-engaging means being ina direction for applying pressure against said pit outwardly of said pitcavity during said further movement and after said engagement at saidpoints,

c. actuating means for said pit-engaging means operatively connectedwith said member for movement therewith from said initial position ofsaid member to a second position in a direction toward a drupe half heldin said pitremoving position until further movement is stopped byengagement of said end of said member with said planar surface of suchdrupe, said actuating means being supported for further movement fromsaid second position in said direction after said member is so stoppedand means operatively connected with said member for reciprocating thelatter including moving said actuating means during said furthermovement thereof,

d. means connecting said pit-engaging means with said actuating meansfor moving said pit-engaging means from said retracted position to saidpit-engaging position and in said direction for applying said pressureagainst said pit during said further movement of said actuating means,and

e. said member, actuating means, and said pit-engaging member beingconnected for rotation as a unit about longitudinal axis of said memberwhen said pit-engaging means is in engagement with a pit at the end ofsaid further movement of said actuating means, and said member isrotated, and means connected with said member for so rotating thelatter.

. In apparatus as defined in claim 1;

said means connecting said pit-engaging means with said actuating meanscomprises cam means respectively on said actuating means and on saidmember movable relative to each other upon moving of said actuatingmeans during said further movement thereof.

3. ln apparatus as defined in claim 1;

g. separate spring means respectively connected with said pit-engagingmeans and with said actuating means during said further movement of saidactuating means for yieldably returning said pit-engaging means to saidretracted position, and for yieldably holding said member against adrupe half during said further movement of said actuating means andduring return of said actuating means to said second position.

4. ln apparatus as defined in claim 2;

h. said member comprising an inner shaft, and said actuating meanscomprising an outer body supported thereon for reciprocable movementlongitudinally thereof,

. said pit-engaging means comprising a pair of opposedly positionedtines at opposite sides of said one end of said shaft pivotallysupported on said one end for arcuate movement about a common axisthrough said planar surface and into said pit-engaging relation whensaid member is in pit removing position,

j. said cam means comprising cam tracks rigid on said outer body, andcam followers on said cam tracks operatively connected with said tines,said tracks being contoured to move said tines to and from saidpit-engaging relation upon reciprocable movement of said body on saidshaft.

in apparatus as defined in claim 1;

a stationary frame supporting said member for said vertical reciprocablemovement,

g. said means operatively connected with said member for reciprocatingit comprising a rocker arm pivotally supported on said frame foroscillatory movement of one end thereof, and means at said one endconnected with said member, and rotatable power-driven cam meansrotatably supported on said frame and operatively connected with saidrocker arm for rocking said arm upon rotation of said power-driven cammeans.

6. Apparatus for removing pits from drupe halves, each of which has aplanar surface on one side and a generally hemispherical convex surfaceon the other side extending to said planar surface with a pit cavity insaid planar surface having a pit held therein exposed for removal fromsaid cavity;

a. a stationary frame,

b. a straight row of elongated, corresponding vertically disposedpitting heads each including a member supported thereon for verticallyreciprocable movement in the same direction in the plane of said row onvertically disposed axes,

c. a row of supports for supporting drupe halves with their planarsurfaces directed upwardly, said row being parallel with said pittingheads providing one support below each head with each support being onone of said axes, and means for supporting said supports in positionsequally spaced below said heads for simultaneous engagement of the lowerends of each head with the planar surface of each drupe half on eachsupport at the end of downward movement of said heads,

d. pit-engaging and removing elements on each of said heads supportedthereon for simultaneous movement into engagement with the side of thepit in each half that is within the pit cavity in each drupe and forupward movement relative to said lower end of said head and outwardly ofsaid half, during said engagement of said lower end of each head with adrupe half for forcing said pit in a direction outwardly of each half,

element-actuating means on each head supported thereon actuatable formovement relative thereto connected with said pit-engaging and removingelements for so moving said pit engaging and removing elements upon saidengagement between the lower end of each head and said planar surface onthe drupe half therebelow,

f. means connected with said heads and with said pit actuating means formoving said respective heads simultaneously and for simultaneouslyactuating said pit actuating means.

. In an apparatus as defined in claim 6; said means for moving saidrespective heads simultaneously and for simultaneously actuating saidactuating means including a single power driven shaft and a cam on saidshaft operatively connected with said member and with said actuatingmeans.

. ln apparatus as defined in claim 7; head and element rotating meansoperatively connecting said power-driven shaft with said head andelements for simultaneously rotating said head and revolving saidelements about the axes of said respective heads relative to saidsupports and the drupe halves supported therein during engagement of thelower ends of said heads with the drupe halves in said support andduring said engagement of said elements with the pits i9 said drupehalves.

1. Apparatus for removing a pit from a drupe half, which half has aplanar surface on one side and a pit cavity therein with the pit adheredin said cavity, and a generally hemispherical convex surface on theother side extending to said planar surface, comprising: a. a pittinghead comprising an elongated member supported for reciprocable movementlongitudinally thereof between an initial position in which one end isspaced from a drupe half, and a drupe engaging position, in which saidone end is in engagement with said planar surface around a pit in saidpit cavity and in which drupe engaging position further movement of saidmember toward said half is stopped by said half when such half is heldstationary on said axis relative to said reciprocable movement in apit-removing position with said planar surface facing said member, andmeans for holding such drupe half stationary in said pit-removingposition, b. pit-engaging means adjacent to said one end supported formovement from a retracted position out of said drupe half into said halfthrough said planar surface thereon to pit-engaging position inengagement with the side of said pit within said pit cavity at pointsspaced from the edges of saiD cavity, said movement of said pit-engagingmeans being in a direction for applying pressure against said pitoutwardly of said pit cavity during said further movement and after saidengagement at said points, c. actuating means for said pit-engagingmeans operatively connected with said member for movement therewith fromsaid initial position of said member to a second position in a directiontoward a drupe half held in said pit-removing position until furthermovement is stopped by engagement of said end of said member with saidplanar surface of such drupe, said actuating means being supported forfurther movement from said second position in said direction after saidmember is so stopped and means operatively connected with said memberfor reciprocating the latter including moving said actuating meansduring said further movement thereof, d. means connecting saidpit-engaging means with said actuating means for moving saidpit-engaging means from said retracted position to said pit-engagingposition and in said direction for applying said pressure against saidpit during said further movement of said actuating means, and e. saidmember, actuating means, and said pit-engaging member being connectedfor rotation as a unit about longitudinal axis of said member when saidpit-engaging means is in engagement with a pit at the end of saidfurther movement of said actuating means, and said member is rotated,and means connected with said member for so rotating the latter.
 2. Inapparatus as defined in claim 1; f. said means connecting saidpit-engaging means with said actuating means comprises cam meansrespectively on said actuating means and on said member movable relativeto each other upon moving of said actuating means during said furthermovement thereof.
 3. In apparatus as defined in claim 1; g. separatespring means respectively connected with said pit-engaging means andwith said actuating means during said further movement of said actuatingmeans for yieldably returning said pit-engaging means to said retractedposition, and for yieldably holding said member against a drupe halfduring said further movement of said actuating means and during returnof said actuating means to said second position.
 4. In apparatus asdefined in claim 2; h. said member comprising an inner shaft, and saidactuating means comprising an outer body supported thereon forreciprocable movement longitudinally thereof, i. said pit-engaging meanscomprising a pair of opposedly positioned tines at opposite sides ofsaid one end of said shaft pivotally supported on said one end forarcuate movement about a common axis through said planar surface andinto said pit-engaging relation when said member is in pit removingposition, j. said cam means comprising cam tracks rigid on said outerbody, and cam followers on said cam tracks operatively connected withsaid tines, said tracks being contoured to move said tines to and fromsaid pit-engaging relation upon reciprocable movement of said body onsaid shaft.
 5. In apparatus as defined in claim 1; f. a stationary framesupporting said member for said vertical reciprocable movement, g. saidmeans operatively connected with said member for reciprocating itcomprising a rocker arm pivotally supported on said frame foroscillatory movement of one end thereof, and means at said one endconnected with said member, and rotatable power-driven cam meansrotatably supported on said frame and operatively connected with saidrocker arm for rocking said arm upon rotation of said power-driven cammeans.
 6. Apparatus for removing pits from drupe halves, each of whichhas a planar surface on one side and a generally hemispherical convexsurface on the other side extending to said planar surface with a pitcavity in said planar surface having a pit held therein exposed forremoval from said cavity; a. a stationary frame, b. a straight row ofelongated, corresponding vertically disposed pitting heAds eachincluding a member supported thereon for vertically reciprocablemovement in the same direction in the plane of said row on verticallydisposed axes, c. a row of supports for supporting drupe halves withtheir planar surfaces directed upwardly, said row being parallel withsaid pitting heads providing one support below each head with eachsupport being on one of said axes, and means for supporting saidsupports in positions equally spaced below said heads for simultaneousengagement of the lower ends of each head with the planar surface ofeach drupe half on each support at the end of downward movement of saidheads, d. pit-engaging and removing elements on each of said headssupported thereon for simultaneous movement into engagement with theside of the pit in each half that is within the pit cavity in each drupeand for upward movement relative to said lower end of said head andoutwardly of said half, during said engagement of said lower end of eachhead with a drupe half for forcing said pit in a direction outwardly ofeach half, e. element-actuating means on each head supported thereonactuatable for movement relative thereto connected with saidpit-engaging and removing elements for so moving said pit engaging andremoving elements upon said engagement between the lower end of eachhead and said planar surface on the drupe half therebelow, f. meansconnected with said heads and with said pit actuating means for movingsaid respective heads simultaneously and for simultaneously actuatingsaid pit actuating means.
 7. In an apparatus as defined in claim 6; g.said means for moving said respective heads simultaneously and forsimultaneously actuating said actuating means including a single powerdriven shaft and a cam on said shaft operatively connected with saidmember and with said actuating means.
 8. In apparatus as defined inclaim 7; h. head and element rotating means operatively connecting saidpower-driven shaft with said head and elements for simultaneouslyrotating said head and revolving said elements about the axes of saidrespective heads relative to said supports and the drupe halvessupported therein during engagement of the lower ends of said heads withthe drupe halves in said support and during said engagement of saidelements with the pits in said drupe halves.